Nurse Saxon's Patient (10 page)

‘
I shall enjoy it,
’
Julie assured him,
‘
and if there
’
s anything I can do to help,
r
unning
up paths with
things
and so on, just say the word.
’

In agreeable companionship they made their rounds, Andrew driving slowly and pointing out items of interest as they passed. He showed her the site of the old Butter Cross, the place where, years ago, the stocks had once stood, and the hill on the crest of which there had been a gallows.

He showed her the wood, a pretty picture in spring, he told her, with bluebells, violets and pri
m
r
oses, but a place avoided by the villagers at night because a ghost was supposed to haunt it, the ghost of a girl who had been drowned in the pond at its centre because people believed her to be a witch.

‘
Thank goodness there aren
’
t any beliefs like that nowadays.
’
Julie shuddered.
‘
I would have hated to live then
...
people were so superstitious, so blind in their beliefs. Anyone the least bit different from anyone else must have had a dreadful time.
’

‘
To each generation its own crop of threats,
’
Andrew remarked cryptically.
‘
Now we have space men and transistor radios
!’
He laughed, but Julie felt the remark had meant something, and when, a few minutes later, he stopped the car in a little by-lane and offered his cigarette case she mentally braced herself for she knew not what, but something she felt instinctively which had been the purpose of this drive.

‘
I
’
m not at all happy about this romance of Garth
’
s,
’
Andrew said suddenly, puffing clouds of smoke from the pipe he had lighted in preference to a cigarette.
‘
T
hey
’
re poles apart ... not a bit the same and yet not different in a way that will make life interesting. Take this afternoon, as an instance. I
’
m sure Garth would have been perfectly content to have reclined in the garden, listening to the song of the birds, which he loves, but instead he has to listen to that awful foreign programme, jazz music and such, I heard as we came down the drive. Tansy
’
s a bright little girl, and she likes the bright things of life, bright lights, gay music, attention—limelight, if you like—the lot. Garth has never been that way. Even as a little boy he preferred to sit and draw—or sit and dream—to the usual kind of bouncy, noisy games all our other nephews seemed to indulge in when they were small. They
’
ve grown up like that, too. Gay, adventurous ... not that Garth is a sissy,
’
he used the word a little self-consciously, and Julie repressed a smile,
‘
but he likes an ordered, even way of life. One of the others is a foreign correspondent for a big newspaper, another is an airline pilot. You see what I mean, don
’
t you?
’
he queried anxiously.

‘
Yes.
’
Julie did see what he meant, and she quite understood his anxiety.
‘
But ... if they
lo
v
e
one another
...’
she ventured.

At her side the elderly gentleman gave what would
,
in anyone else, be classed only as a snort of indignation.

‘
That
’
s the idea of this afternoon,
’
he said quickly.
‘
Let him remember what it was like before the accident
...
noise, parties, late nights ... he complained, about a week before, to me in the office that he couldn
’
t stand the pace. I didn
’
t say anything to Lavinia, but I know she isn
’
t happy about them either. If they love one another,
’
he went on magnanimously,
‘
then there
’
s no more to be said and the sooner they
’
re married the better. But if a mistake has been made by either or both of them, then the sooner it
’
s discovered and rectified the better. What I would like you to do, my dear, is to give me an honest report of how Garth is this evening. Heaven knows, all we want, Lavinia and I, is for the boy to be happy, but we feel there is something wrong, and if we can help to put it right it
’
s our duty to do so.
’

‘
But I couldn
’
t sort of
...
spy on my patient
!’
Julie protested, her colour rising at her unavoidable choice of words, but Andrew merely chuckled and started the car up again.

‘
It
’
s not spying, my dear,
’
he said kindly,
‘
it
’
s observing ... for the benefit of your patient. Don
’
t tell me anything if you
’
d rather not. I admire you for that
. I’ve
a feeling we shall see—each of us for ourselves the effect of an afternoon of Miss Tansy and her radio,
and then we can judge whether or not we should let Garth proceed, undeterred, to a lifetime of the same thing or
not!’

CHAPTER VII

When they returned to Woodlands it did not take Julie more than a
min
ute
or two to discover that Andrew was right and it was perfectly obvious to all present—with the exception, perhaps, of Tansy herself—that Garth was feeling far from well. There were lines of strain about his mouth and eyes, and all the colour had gone from his face. When Tansy put her hand out to reach his cup he frowned impatiently, gesturing with his bandaged hands.

‘
Julie
’
s back now,
’
he said almost curtly.
‘
She
’
s used to this sort of thing ... let her do it.
’

T
ans
y
drew back her hand, her face clouding a little like a child about to cry, but she made an effort and turned brightly to Julie, determined not to be left out of
things.

‘
We had a lovely afternoon,
’
she commented.
‘
This place is wonderful for radio reception. I got two stations I
’
ve never been able to get before. One of them played the Top Ten, and there was a band I
’
ve been wanting to
hear
for
ages...”

‘
Good.
’
Julie smiled at her.
‘
And were there any new songs too?
’

She didn
’
t really care, but Garth had frowned again as Tansy mentioned the two new stations and she desperately wanted to avoid anything like a scene, both for his sake and that of her hostess. Once launched into her favourite subject, however, Tansy chattered happily on and did not appear to notice that Garth had withdrawn into himself while Julie, Andrew and his wife listened with polite if feigned interest to something which did not interest any of them in the least.

Dinner was accompanied by much of the same type of discussion. With an effort
Mrs.
Andy brought the conversation round to the school gala to be held in the village the following weekend, but Tansy
’
s sole contribution to this was the offer of her radio to
‘
liven things up a little
’
, and she showed not the slightest interest in the
fact that certain special prizes were to be awarded that day and that
Mrs.
Andy was to present them.

With difficulty their hostess held a semblance of conversation together throughout the meal, but when they rose to take their coffee in the drawing-room it came as both a relief and a surprise to Julie to hear Garth announce that he was tired out and would like to be excused and retire to bed.

‘
By all means, dear boy,
’
Mrs.
Andy said promptly.
‘
You mustn
’
t overdo things and put yourself back at
all...’

‘
But he hasn
’
t done
anything
,’
Tansy protested.
‘
He hasn
’
t been working, as he
’
s been doing with Julie for days with all those piles of notes and things. He
’
s just been relaxing, listening to the music.
’

‘
I can
’
t take any more tonight, Tansy, really,
’
Garth put in unexpectedly, glowering at the television in the
corner
with its sound muted, its picture of a cabaret scene.
‘
You stay and listen to that,
’
he gestured with his chin towards the picture,
‘
and come up when you
’
re ready. I
must
go
...’
he added in a s
mall
, desperate rush.

‘I’ll
help you,
’
Tansy began, but he brushed her aside, first stooping to press a light kiss on her cheek.

‘
Not tonight, thank you, dear,
’
he protested.
‘
It
’
ll be much quicker if Julie does it. She knows how best to help quickly and without hurting
...’
and while part of her mind rejoiced that he should accept her ministrations the other side of Julie ached for the other girl, who stood on one side looking as suddenly and unexpectedly forlorn as she had done that first day at the hospital.

‘
That wasn
’
t kind,
’
she told Garth as in his room she began to help him with his preparations for bed. He glanced up at her from where he had seated himself on the low bedside chair, a frown creasing his forehead.

‘
I can
’
t help it,
’
he almost snapped.
‘
I don
’
t feel kind. I feel worn out. All that noise, all that chatter ... I must have been a very different sort of person before this happened if that was the sort of
thing
I
we
nt in for! Maybe it
’
ll be different when I get the use of my hands again, when what
Mr.
Greensmith calls the effects of shock have worn off, I don
’
t know. I only know that right now I just can
’
t take it, and I can
’
t stay up any longer watching the
in
ane antics of those figures on the screen
.
’

‘
What you need,
’
Julie pressed an expert finger on his pulse,
‘
is rest and quiet, and I
’
m going to give you one of these little white tablets
Mr.
Greensmith left for you in the event of just such an occasion as this. Take this
’—
she poured out a glass of water and held it for him
to drink—
‘
and you
’
ll sleep so well you
’
ll feel a very different person in the morning.
’

He took the tablet obediently, pulling a face, then
smiling at her.

‘
How you
’
ve the patience,
’
he said abruptly,
‘
I really don
’
t know. First I
’
m wanting my hands free, then I
’
m not satisfied when everyone
’
s doing all they can to look after me, get me better and keep me amused and cared for
...
I
’
m an ungrateful brute
...’

‘
Just a tired young man,
’
Julie corrected him in her most professional manner.
‘
Lie down now, and you
’ll
feel more yourself in the morning. Mustn
’
t spoil things now, you were doing so well
...’

‘
I was,
’
he murmured, so low that she could scarcely hear him,
‘
until Friday
...
and I will again
...’

‘
Of course you will.
’
Julie paused at the door of his room.
‘
If you need anything ring the bell,
’
she said.
‘
I shall hear. Goodnight.
’
But as she went down to rejoin the others for a little while she wondered if things really would work out right for him after all. Try as she would she could not see Garth Holroyd ever breaking off his engagement without some terrible quarrel again or something happening to bring matters to a head, and Tansy had made it clear that, so far as she was concerned, their engagement was a fact and a fact she intended it to remain.

Ian was right, I
’
m afraid, Julie thought as she watched the screen with unseeing eyes, she wants to be
Mrs.
Garth
Holroyd, wife of the successful young architect, not just because he
’
s Garth
...
And in her heart she wept a little for all three of them, wondering how they could each endure the hours that must be passed before Sunday evening arrived and Tansy returned to her world of music and records, of noise and excitement, and Garth could relapse once more into his creative dreams of the new development site which meant so much to him.

Garth certainly seemed more himself when he awoke on Sunday morning, surprising them all by saying that he would like to accompany his uncle and aunt to morning service in the village church. Tansy, of course, was not up when they left, but Julie did not take any persuading to accompany the little party. She enjoyed the simple service, listening to Andrew as he read the lessons, the young-faced vicar as he gave his sermon and joining heartily in the singing of the familiar hymns. By the time they returned to the house she felt at peace with the world, and even Tansy
’
s radio, heralding her approach downstairs, could not disturb the new peace she had found with herself.

Tansy and Garth went down to the summer-house after luncheon. Not wishing to intrude, Julie took her pen and pad and sat on the terrace to write a long, chatty letter to Roger. She saw nothing of the other two all afternoon. Edna brought out tea for her and asked if she would be joining
Mr.
Garth and Miss Maitland by the lakeside. Just for a moment Julie hesitated. All afternoon she had heard the music from Tansy
’
s radio and knew what effect the long, unceasing stream of sound must be having on Garth, but he knew where she was if he wanted her, and he could walk unaided, or he could send a message with Edna.

‘
No,
’
she said at last,
‘
I don
’
t think so, not unless they ask me to go down and join them.
’

Edna did not return with any message, and the sounds of music did not cease for one minute, so, with a sigh, whether for herself or Garth or both she did not know, Julie resumed her letter-writing, losing herself completely in her description to Roger of her life at Woodlands and the differences she found there after her work in the hospital.

When they all returned to the house for dinner the first thing Julie noticed was that Garth
’
s face was white and strained and that the little muscle at the
corner
of his mouth twitched perpetually. He was not hungry, he told his aunt apologetically. He had a bad headache and thought he might have
‘
a touch of the sun
’
.
Mrs.
Andy fussed over him, but sensibly left the treatment to Julie, while Tansy fussed even more, irritating them all, especially Garth, with her offers of aspirin, iced cologne and so on, until finally Julie felt bound to intervene.

‘
He
’
ll be perfectly all right when he
’
s had a little rest and quiet.
’
She spoke to the other girl, but her reassurance was for them all.
‘
We mustn
’
t forget,
’
she smiled so that Tansy would not feel she was being scolded,
‘
that
Mr.
Holroyd had a severe head injury just a little while ago and it will be some time before he really recovers from the effects of that. Take this, please,
’
she shook a tablet into her hand from the small box in her pocket and offered it to Garth,
‘
and come and rest where it
’
s cool.
’

‘
Can
’
t you stay with me, Julie?
’
he asked, when she had settled him comfortably on the terrace.
‘
You
’
re such a restful sort of person to be with.
’

‘
It would be better if you
cl
osed your eyes and tried to sleep for a little while,
’
Julie informed him.
‘
I
’
ll call you before Miss Maitland is ready to leave.
’

Tansy left shortly after dinner and by the time Julie wakened Garth to say goodbye he was looking and obviously feeling very much better. They all stood on the terrace to watch Bailey drive her away, Julie keeping a little in the background as she felt she ought to do, but no sooner had the huge car disappeared round the curve of the drive than Garth turned to her, smiling.

‘
Can you give me your opinion on a new idea I
’
ve had for the air purification unit in the kitchens?
’
he asked.
‘
I
’
ve an idea it can be mass-incorporated into all the houses on the development site.
..
’

‘
Of course.
’
Julie smiled back at him and followed him into the lounge where he had left some papers spread out on a small table. In a short time they were deeply immersed in his new idea, Julie listening to him, nodding now and then, occasionally putting in a word as something from the housewife
’
s angle struck her as being essential.

Watching their heads so closely together over Garth
’
s papers,
Mrs.
Andy nodded to herself. This was what she had hoped for, to know that her favourite nephew and godson had found a girl who, besides being presentable and well-mannered, shared his working interests and enthusiasms, knew where his ambitions lay and would help him always to further them.

And Tansy would drive him mad in six months,
Mrs.
Andy reflected. Ah well, we shall see what we shall see!

But the next three weekends merely repeated the pattern of the first visit Tansy had made as a weekend guest to Woodlands. As Garth grew stronger the physical effects were less apparent, but the nervous strain was beginning to tell and showed in his increasing irritability as Tansy
’
s visits drew to an end. June had drifted into July and Tansy had been visiting Woodlands the second weekend of that month. The day had been close and sultry, with thunder in the distance and occasional flashes of vivid lightning across the sky. The sense of electrical tension was in the very air. Tansy had just left, and Garth walked moodily back into the house to become suddenly very conscious of Julie
’
s watchful glance.

‘
Don
’
t look so solemn,
’
he chided her,
smiling
a little.
‘
You ought to know by now that these spats between Tansy and myself don
’
t mean a thing. I know I must sound a bad-tempered so-and-so, but it doesn
’
t appear to worry her a great deal. She
’
ll come back for more next weekend, just wait and see.
’

‘
It isn
’
t Tansy I
’
m worrying about particularly at this moment, Garth,
’
Julie said slowly.
‘
It
’
s you. Something
’
s worrying you, retarding your progress, and
Mr.
Greensmith will expect me to know why.
’

She smiled as she spoke, speaking lightly so that he would not think the matter of too great an importance, but Garth was not deceived.

‘
Something
is
worrying me,
’
he confessed.
‘
In fact there are two things. When am I going to be free of all this,
’
he gestured his still bandaged hands helplessly,
‘
and
...
what
did
happen just before the accident? What
’
s lost in that blank space in my mind? Whatever it is I
’
m positive it has some connection with Tansy. I can
’
t remember a thing, but I
’
ve a feeling there
’
s something very important to remember, something that isn
’
t very pleasant, and until it has come back to me I can
’
t feel any real sense of peace.
’